George has now been diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes, a condition which means his body cannot produce the insulin needed to break down glucose. It is neither preventable or curable.

“Now life is completely different,” Anne said.

George needs to be injected with insulin four times a day. His parents also have to watch what he eats and monitor his blood sugar levels constantly.

As well as the fear of George’s blood sugar levels going too high, there is the danger they could go too low – known an hypoglycaemia. If this happens he could become unconscious.

“He’s very brave,” Anne said. “He’s got quite involved in it now. He doesn’t often cry – only if you hit a site where he’s been injected before.

“Sometimes he asks, ‘Mummy, when am I not going to be diabetic any more?’.”

Anne warned other parents to look out for the signs of diabetes in their children, including excessive thirst, increased urination, weight loss, extreme tiredness. For more, visit www.nhs.uk/Conditions/Diabetes-type1/Pages/Introduction.aspx